Illegal Barriers
On Public Roads
Used To Combat
Crime In Costa
Rica
We've all come
across them,
some form of
barrier closing
off a public
street from
traffic or a
security guard
asking you where
you are going
and taking down
your license
plate. These
barriers across
a public street
enable a "gated
community". But,
they are
illegal.
The trend began
many years ago
with the rise in
crime.
Today more and
more
neighbourhoods
are adopting the
measure as a way
of combating the
rise in crimes
such a
break-ins,
assaults and
home invasions.
The barriers
known in Costa
Rica as "Las
Aguas" are
prohibited under
the Constitución
Política
(Political
Constitution) as
they hinder
right of free
movement.
However, the
Fuerza Pública
(police) and
local
municipalities
close an eye to
the barriers
across public
streets and are
reluctant to
step in to ask a
community to
remove them,
heeding to call
of residents for
more secure
streets and
neighbourhoods.
These barriers,
although
similar, are
different than
barriers used at
entrances of
private
properties like
condominium
housing
developments.
The barriers are
installed on
public property
and manned by a
private
individual or
security company
controlling
movement on a
public street.
Juan Rafael
Marín, president
of the Instituto
de Fomento y
Asesoría
Municipal (IFAM),
told the daily
La Nación, he
sees the
indifference.
"IF we look at
it from a legal
point of view,
the barriers
should not be
there, but
looking it at
from a point of
view of
security, the
barriers are
important", said
Marín.
The battle
between their
existence and
their removal is
constant. Some
say they are
needed and
important, while
others object to
having someone
control and in
many cases,
write down,
their comings
and goings.
However, what
other options do
residents have
to make their
homes and
neighbourhoods
secure?
The barriers are
most common in
residential
areas like
Escazú, Santa
Ana, Belén de
Heredia,
Curridabat,
Alajuela,
Cartago, etc.
They are
cropping up
everywhere.
In Santa Ana, on
the old road to
Piedades de
Santa Ana or in
Lindora or even
Villa Real, al
where Costa
Rica's
presidenta,
Laura Chinchilla
lives, the
majority of the
security gates
are not legal,
they are placed
on a public road
that leads into
a residential
community.
In each of those
communities,
unlike the gates
entering a
condominium
development,
cars are stopped
and drivers are
asked their
destination and
business in the
community.
License plate
numbers are
written down. In
some, drivers
are given a card
that has to be
handed back to
the security
guard on
leaving.
Residents in
these
communities say
they feel safe.
However, the
Fuerza Pública
do not agree,
saying it is a
false sense of
security.
Whatever side of
the gate you are
on, it is
certain that the
barriers are
here to stay and
will be growing
in number as
more and more
Costa Ricans
feel insecure
and do not see
the police
making headways
in combating
crime. |
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